Remove bleach stain from rocks

Tom
by Tom
A few years ago we put a riverbed in our front yard with running water. Some of the rocks got a growth on them, and a neighbor suggested i put bleach in the water to kill the growth. I did, and after a few weeks the rocks started turning white. We stopped the running water, and now the great looking riverbed is not so great looking any more, because the rocks are mostly an off white. HELP! HELP! How do i get the rocks back to a normal color?

  12 answers
  • Try vinegar. So sorry this happened to you. May take several applications.

  • William William on Nov 25, 2017

    Nothing much you can do. Once the color has been removed with bleach nothing can bring it back.

  • Janice Furtado Janice Furtado on Nov 25, 2017

    Can you try flipping the rocks upside-down?

  • 27524803 27524803 on Nov 25, 2017

    You could try sponge painting them with something like Patio Paint (available on Amazon or at Michael's) Use foil or paper plates as a palette and I just use cheap car wash sponges that I tear (large-ish) chunks off of to paint with. Use several different shades and colors (you could custom mix by adding more white or gray, etc.) OR you can do what William said.... turn them up side down (if the bleach did not run to the bottom of them)

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Nov 25, 2017

    you cannot return the rocks to the original color after they have been bleached.

  • RBE RBE on Nov 25, 2017

    Put a new thin layer of river rocks on top of the existing ones ”just a thought” Good Luck!

  • Mar24787706 Mar24787706 on Nov 25, 2017

    if flipping them doesn,t work just replace rocks ......don,t give up on it

  • Mar24787706 Mar24787706 on Nov 25, 2017

    looks like my ' fell down

  • Nancy landers Nancy landers on Nov 25, 2017

    There has to be another way. Bleach is very bad for wildlife and the environment

  • JimmySea JimmySea on Sep 11, 2020

    Buy a clear lacquer spray paint which will bring back the wet look as if the rocks are wet.

  • Crd51010544 Crd51010544 on Apr 11, 2021

    I used chocolate syrup on dark rock and spread it with a wet sponge. Worked great!!! I used strawberry syrup the same way for pinkish/terra cotta stone. I tested concrete dye but it gave the rock a painted look.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Apr 12, 2021

    Did the rocks actually become bleached or did it the bleach the algae growth and the algae is white now?

    Are you going to drain the bleach water out?

    Big rocks you can scrub and then flip over, as suggested.

    For tedious small rocks, I'd replace them.